Vintage Viewpoint
Vol. 41 No 3Vintage MG Car ClubMarch 2007
The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 14,
at the Pizza Joynt, 39 W. North Ave., Northlake, IL, 8PM – 708-562-5334
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Spring is coming and the driving season will be here shortly. It matters not that there is snow on the ground; it matters less that Tom Skilling’s forecast predicts more sleet and icy rain. In the first place, making predictions, especially about the future, is always a tricky endeavor. We here in Chicago are blessed with a seasonal barometer that never fails: by the time you read this the summer construction on the Dan Ryan will be under way.
Before looking forward, a backward glance is in order. Remember back to late last year when you tucked in the car for a long winter nap. Remember how you prepared the car: you washed, hand-dried and lovingly applied a new wax job; you polished the chrome and cleaned the glass; you changed the oil and oil filter; you changed the sparking plugs(you even gapped them before installing them); you removed the battery and placed it somewhere warm, if not on a trickle charge; you checked the anti-freeze; you changed the air filters; you vacuumed the carpet and applied leather cleaner and conditioner to the seats; you put mouse traps and moth balls in the foot wells; you put steel wool in the exhaust pipe; you covered the car with a breathable, baby-soft-flannel cover to keep him dry and toasty. You did do these things, right? OK, we will take that up at the next meeting.
The point here is this: before we get out of the garage this Spring we have to get the cars ready. Aside from routine maintenance and detailing there may be more serious repairs and/or work before we fire up all four cylinders and slowly inhale the pale blue fumes. If you need and/or want help getting your MG out of the garage, then schedule a garage visit.
The first is scheduled for Saturday March 31,
at 9:00 AM, at Jeff Powell’s house. Jeff will be getting his TC race-ready by, among other things, aligning the front end, bleeding the brakes, setting the brakes, and centering the steering column. What he intends to do after lunch is still a surprise. Jeff could undoubtedly perform these tasks by himself so why have a garage visit? Lots of reasons, all of them good.
The good fellowship of friends sharing their passion for cars. It transforms the work into fun. Friends bring extra hands to help, eyes to see and experience to guide. It also is a time to learn. Learn how your TC, TD, and TF is really put together. There is no substitute for watching(and helping) dismantling it, and helping put it back together. Learn to use the right tools that get the job done right the first time. You may even learn some new and colorful language.
Sharing our knowledge about the cars, and therefore keeping them on the road, was one of the principal reasons for the Club coming into existence. The garage visits serve two vital functions: they keep our cars going, but more importantly, they keep our friendships going.
Meeting Minutes
Vintage MG Car Club of Chicago
February 14, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 PM by President Larry Carlson.
In attendance on this cold Valentine’s Day were 12 members.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved by motion.
Ric Maitzen reported a treasury balance of $9,279.93, with a full report to be published in the next Viewpoint.
There was nothing new to report on regalia.
Bill Dobeus was absent; therefore there was no membership report.
OLD BUSINESS
A big thanks to Bill and Alice Latham for hosting the annual Christmas party.
Larry Carlson reported that we will publish information on the major racing events of interest to members in the Viewpoint. The Blackhawk races are June 15-17, ElkhartLakes’ vintage races are September 14-16, and the Ohio MG Vintage Racers Focus Event will be held October 14-17. More on these events later.
Larry gave Greg Hoeft several articles from Hemmings Sports and Exotics magazine. Greg will include some of these in future Viewpoints to see if they are of interest to readers.
Larry reminds all that they should get their 2006 MG mileage in to Rick Rausch, 630-852-2568, if they wish to compete for the Tourist Trophy.
Jennifer Smith reminded all of the Pinstripe Pete’s Garage Visit Saturday, February 24.
The DuPage Swap Meet is scheduled for Sunday, February 25.
NEW BUSINESS
Don and Lesley Gottlinger named April 22 as the date for the Spring Brunch Drive. Details will follow.
Larry Carlson asked if any members would be interested in T-shirts or polo shirts with the club logo. He also showed a logoed fender cover. Larry will investigate pricing of these items.
Larry reminded all of the annual Founders/Members Dinner at Klas Restaurant, 5734 West Cermak in Cicero, Saturday, March 24. The cost is $23.50 per person. Get your checks in to Larry Carlson.
Larry reported that one garage visit is on tap; another at John Welch’s in Golf is being worked on as well as possibilities at Rey Navarro’s and Bill Latham’s.
There was a discussion concerning the club’s policy of publishing the Treasurer’s Report in the Viewpoint. It was felt that the value of this exceeds any concerns of non-members seeing these figures.
Larry reminded members that if they wish to have their e-mail address published in the members directory, they should contact Bill Dobeus, 847-234-4423.
Specialty Coating was mentioned as a source for powder coating.
Larry noted there was an interesting article about investments in classic cars in a recent Chicago Tribune, and Andy Reid, in his monthly column in Classic Motorsports, named the TD as one of the top 10 sports cars of all time. (But we knew that!)
Greg Hoeft reported that he has ordered a performance roller cam kit for his TC. We look forward to hearing more about this.
The Spring Tour will be held May 11-13 with a stay at the DeSoto Hotel in Galena Friday and Saturday.
TECHNICAL TOPICS
Don Gottlinger noted that Castrol 20/50 has changed (not for the better for our cars). He is trying Crane’s Super Lube Break-in Concentrate For Cam and Lifters as an additive for vintage MGs.
PROGRAM
The meeting closed with Jennifer Smith presenting an old silent film showing MG manufacturing at Abingdon. We were all particularly impressed by the way cars were spray painted, with the painters enveloped in a cloud of spray with no protective masks. Life expectancies were obviously somewhat shorter back then.
Upon motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Win Gould, Secretary
Treasurer’s Report
Ric Maitzen, Treasurer
Beginning Balance 1/22/07 9279.93
Receipts
Regalia 20.00
Disbursements
February VV -142.80
Members Dinner deposit -250.00
Regalia -15.32
Ending Balance 2/22/07 8871.81
Last Month’s Program
By Jennifer Smith, Vice President
Last month we screened an early MG film from Heritage Motoring Films’ MG Film Library, Safety Fast (1932) (14 minutes). This black and white silent film, made by the Morris Cine Department, follows a young couple on their tour of the factory before collecting their new MG Magna car. It features rare period footage of the MG works and personnel.
At our March14 meetingwe’ll be showing pictures on the big screen taken by Larry Carlson and me of the Pinstripe Pete's garagetour and the Old West Steakhouse Lunch. This way you peoplewho didn't get a chance to go can see what you missed.
This Guy’s Way Cool
Here’s something interesting. If you play around on the Internet, venture out to:
If this address doesn’t work (finger trouble anyone?), go to and in the search box type:
“The Marlboro Man drives a MG TD”.
And if that doesn’t work (what have you been drinking?), head on over to the club’s web page; and click on the link that Brian Dubin set up just for you.
How close was this guy to those carbs anyway?
If you know of other interesting internet finds please let us know about them at:
Spring Tour – Save the Dates
Tour Meisters, Ric and Nancy Maitzen
This year we are going to Galena on May 11, 12, and 13. We will be staying at the Desoto House Hotel in downtown Galena (they have their own parking garage). We have a great rate of $90 per night. A block of rooms have been reserved with a release date of April 11. Call 800-343-6562 and mention the Vintage MG Car Club. There is a 72 hour cancellation policy. More details next month. Got questions? Ric Maitzen 847-205-0182
The Next Garage Visit Planned
By Larry Carlson
Jeff Powell has scheduled a garage visit at his house for Saturday March 31. The door opens promptly at 9:00 AM. Donuts and coffee will be served. This will be a working visit as Jeff has things to do on his TC to get it ready for racing this summer. He will appreciate any assistance in aligning the front end (remember that broken pivot arm on the BC steering box?), bleeding the brakes, setting the shoes, centering the steering and a few other tasks. A tour of his garage, other cars, and the Studebaker he is building in the basement (will he ever get it out?) will happen after all the work is completed. Since Jeff has not yet fired up the TC this year, this ominous task will be the last one attempted. A lunch break at Russell's Bar-B-Q is planned. If you have a TC and want to help, then please come; if you have a TC and want to see and learn how to perform these jobs, then please come.
910 Hirsch
Melrose Park, Il60160
708-344-2268
Spring Brunch Drive
Don and Lesley Gottlinger have set the date for the Spring Brunch Drive for April 22. Put the date on your calendar and check back next month for all the details.
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From the Editor
By Greg Hoeft
I had the pleasure of speaking with long-time member John Gasienica. He called me about placing a “parts for sale” ad in this issue of The Viewpoint. When he called, my wife answered the phone and when she attempted to get my attention to have me take the call, she used a term of endearment rather than my name. Two days later a letter arrived from John addressed – for our mailman and all to see – to “Honey Hoeft.” (At least she hadn’t used one of the other names I’ve been called.) This got me thinking (a dangerous activity to be sure). I know of other car clubs that use nicknames extensively and bestow similar names upon their cars. My car has a name and several others in the VMGCC do too. I would like to create an article for a future issue with VMGCC members’ nick names, car names and the stories behind them. Please send me your names and the story of how or why you got them. You can send them by email to , by snail mail to the return address on this newsletter, or you can call me at 847-272-5545 with the information. Don’t be shy. And it’s okay to rat out other members – I’ll never tell.
We will hold our Members Dinner at Klas Restaurant on March 24 to celebrate 41 years of meetings, outings, parties and fun with our MGs. Here is the original announcement from the March 19, 1966 Chicago Sun Times for that first fateful meeting, complete with Paul Stith’s misspelled name.
And here is my final thought for this month. Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, “I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on a machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. If that ever happens, just pull the plug!” She got up, unplugged the TV, and poured my bottle of beer into the sink. I think it’s time to head out to the garage and work on the MG.
More on MMM Engine Colors
By Phil Anderson
The October 2006 newsletter reprinted an article by Mike Allison (originally in Safety Fast, June 1999) concerning the vexed question of what color or colors were originally on pre-war MMM OHC engines. He concluded that all were painted dark red. Though one should hardly quibble when the subtitle of the article was “An essay from the horse’s mouth,” and based on the replies to questions put to worthies in the mid-60s who had been at MGs in the 1930s, the original article raised further questions for some of us restoring our MMM cars, especially when our experience has shown that not all engines were painted red (the shade of red, too, has been disputed). Some of us believe our engines, depending on the type, were green.
This generated quite an internet discussion among members of the North American MMM Register during 2002. Several weighed in giving detailed accounts of their own cars and first-hand knowledge of others, especially original, unmolested examples. Lew Palmer collated the 33 responses with the following results: 18 green (55%), 11 red (33%), 2 grey (6%, on early M-types), and 2 blue (6%, bespoke or racing engines). Green seemed to register most commonly on J2s and P-types. According to some, engines were assembled and painted at the works, and were hand-brushed from a can (perhaps what was closest at hand), not sprayed. Others remember that they were painted at Wolseley prior to shipment to Abingdon.
I have had my 1934 PA since 1972, and the frame-off restoration was completed in 2002 (finally!). The engine, original to the car, appears to have been green from the beginning. There was not a trace of red on the engine, bellhousing, or gearbox ends, always painted the same color. During its rebuild in the mid-1990s I painted it pillar-box red, based on what seemed to be the prevailing wisdom. I felt confirmed in this decision when Allison’s article appeared (oops, not dark red though), but I had my suspicions. It didn’t seem right for my car. When I then developed problems with water getting into the sump, Bob Sterling did a thorough teardown and rebuild, painting the engine green (not dark or light, just green). My car was originally duo-tone red (the “original” exterior paint shades of these duo-reds, greens, and blues are also a frequent subject of debate), and Chris Nowlan reported that the most original PA in every respect he has seen (in England) is duo-tone red with a green engine, true as well of his very original Moroccan J2. Lou Louchios also stayed with green in his PA Airline rebuild, as did Rey Navarro with his PB, which you may have noticed at our club gatherings.
All of this is to say that the question is by no means settled among MMM owners, and for good reason. Surely, those who own post-war MGs by comparison have relatively simple and straightforward information regarding matters of engine and body color. The heady and exciting days of Cecil Kimber, however, with numerous models and variations, largely hand-built with many different suppliers between 1929 and 1936, enhance many of our discussions about originality. Photos of these restored cars taken in recent years show no uniformity of color, hence the mystery. Whether red or green originally, and in what proportion, it remains a both/and not an either/or matter. To me, all period B/W photos clearly show green engines. In the end, of course, the main criteria are whether it appears to be a period color and does the owner like it.
Don’t be Cranky – Make an Engine Wrench
By Ric Maitzen
It was always a pain adjusting the valves or timing the distributor. Using the crank to turn the engine over was a joke. You couldn’t see what you were doing. And to try and get the right position by bumping the starter or rocking the car was hit or miss at best. Pulling the spark plugs eliminated the compression, and I found I could turn the engine over by using the fan blades. This worked okay until I discovered a cracked blade! There had to be a better way. This is what I came up with – a dedicated wrench that fits over the crankshaft nut, that can be used from inside the engine compartment.
The key to this is a ratcheting lug/jack wrench (GM). I got mine at an auto salvage yard. It will set you back $5-$10. You will also need a 6-point, 1/2” drive, 1-1/8” socket; a 1/2” carriage bolt; a 1/2-13 nut; a 1/4” fender washer; and 1/4-20 bolt.
Assembly is pretty straightforward. The carriage bolt goes inside the socket with the threads sticking out the back. The socket is larger than the wrench sprocket and will bind up. Either shim with a washer or chamfer the back of the socket for clearance. Spin on the nut and tighten. Place the nut into the wrench’s sprocket. Get a dimension. Cut the carriage bolt to length. A little short is okay. Drill and tap the bolt end for 1/4-20. Use the 1/4 inch bolt and the fender washer to tighten the assembly. The engine turns clockwise. Make sure you orientate the socket so that the sprocket is engaged when you push down on the handle and ratchets when you pull up. Other modifications that could be made include thinning down the head of the carriage bolt and cutting down the length of the socket to make for a more compact unit. The handle could also be extended.